Combined lock and latch bar



May 8, 1934. J. M. JoHNsoN COMBINED LOCK AND LATCH BAR Filed NOV. 2. 1951 u mw 5 WN 3W J M M y MaZZ Patented May 8, i934 @GMBLEB LCK AND LATCH BAR LSohn itil. Johnson, shpeming, Mich.

Application November 2, 1931, VSerial No. 572,576

6 Claims.

This invention relates to locking devices generally and more specicaliy to a combination lock and latch har, the principal object of ti e invention -being to provide a device of this character 5 embodying structural features which render it particularly advantageous for certain installations, such for example as on doors for barns, stables, garages, and the like, where a strong and rugged yet simple and easily operated combined latching and locking device is desired.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages will become apparent in view oi the ioilow ing description taken in conjunction with the drawing, Whereinz Figure 1 is a view in front elevation oi improved lock and latch bar shown in attached position on a door or pair or" doors;

.'Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in rear elevation of Ythe parts shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and i are views similiar to Fig. 2 with the cover removed, showing the parts in locking and unlocking positions;

Figy is a view in end elevation of the device as illustrated in 1Eig. 2;

25 Fig. 6 is a view in section taken on the line 6 6 or Fig. 3; and

Fig. 'l a fragmentary View in rear elevation of the end portion ci the latch oar and co-operating latch device, illustrating a construction adapted for sliding doors.

Referring first to Fig. 1, a pair oi swinging doors D and D are shown having my improved latch bar and locking device applied thereon. It will be obvious that the doors D and D' are sinply illustrative of the application of my improved latching and locking device and that any other type of door or window, or the like, could have the latch and lock installed in connection therewith. The reference numeral 5, Figs. 3 and 4, designates a housing for the latching and locking mechanism, said housing being provided with a removable cover 6 which is attached to the iianged portion 5a of the housing by screws '7. r The latch bar 8 is pivotally mounted in said housing at 9, the outer end 10 of said bar projecting beyond the housing and being adapted to engage a keeper 11 formed with a cam surface 11d. whereby when the door or doors are swung to closed position, the end l0 of the latch bar 8 rides up over the cam surface 11a and automatically engages the keeper 11, as will be understood.

Pivotally secured to the latch bar 8 is a combined lock and unlatching member 12, said meinlber being pivoted to the latch bar by Vmeans (.Cl. 'l0-29) or" a pin 13. This combined locking and unlatching member is formed with a lug or projection 14 and ashoulder .or ledge 15. The lug 14 is adapted to be engaged by a locking pawl 16, Which is .pivotally mounted on a pin 1'7, .in turn mounted in the housing 5 and cover 6, while the shoulder or ledge l5 is adapted to engage a beveled catch 18 formed .by recessing or cutting away the flange portion of the housing 5. The member 12 is normally urged into locking posi- G5 tion by means of `a spring 19. The latch bar 8 normally is of such weight as to drop by gravity into locking position. The pavvl 16 is connected to, and adapted to he turned toward the lug le,

or toward the ight as viewed in Figs. 3 ande. 70 by a lock 20, note Fig. 1, which may be of any desired type, such as the ordinary Well known pin tumbler lock, and is provided With a key slot orakey adapted for the lock.

Means are provided independent of the locking and latching means for holding `the latch bar `in unlocked or unlatched position from the inner side of the door, said ,moans consisting of a cam 21 adapted to engage in a recessed portion l22 formed in the latch 'par 8, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. This cam .is secured on a -pin 23 which is preferably formed with screw threads on .its projecting end portion `to receive a detachable thumb nut, or like actuating member 24. It will he readily understood that by turning the cam Si 21 to the .position shown in Fig. 4, the .latchbar 8 will be held in unlatched position vuntil the cam is turned to the position shown in Fig. 3. Whenever it is desired to leave the doors in unlocked condition, it is only necessary to turn the cam 21 to the position shown in Fig. 4 and the latch bar cannot be operated from the exterior by means of a key inserted in the lock 20. If desired, the thumb screw 2li may be removed until such time the device is to be placed in locking condition.

The operation of my comb-ined latch bar and lock will be readily apparent. By using a suitable type of lock an key on the outside of the door, or the side facing the observer in Fig. 1, the pawl 16 may be actuated to raise the latch bar and unlock the door, and as soon as the key has been released or removed, the latch bar Will drop by gravity into its lovvermost position. If at this time the door is pushed or pulled toward closed position, the latch bar will not engage over the l0 keeper 11. A key must then be used from the outside in order to raise the latch bar and fully close the door. Thus it will be necessary to use a key in order to fully close the door. This feature has a number of advantages in certain types of installations. This operation can, however, be changed by using a type of lock and key which will hold the pawl 16 in its raised position. In such case, the door may be fully closed but will not lock or latch without turning the key. Whenever it is desired to open the door from the nterior, it is only necessary to actuate the member 12 and raise the latch bar 8 free of the said keeper 11. Should at any time it be found desirable to hold the latch bar 8 in a raised or unlocked position it is only necessary to turn the cam 23 from the interior of the door thus bringing said bar to the position shown in Fig. 4. When the cam is turned to the position shown, it will be impossible to lock the door from the exterior. It will be noted that this operation can only be performed from the inner side of the door. It will be observed that the latch bar can be made unusually strong and rugged, but regardless of its weight it may be comparatively easily raised by manipulating the lock 20. The parts of the improved latch bar and lock are relatively simple and can be easily manufactured and sold at a loW cost. All the parts are easily accessible and may be kept in efcient working condition, or the lock may be easily repaired by an unskilled individual. The latch bar 8 may be easily manipulated from the interior of the door by the member 12 and involves no outwardly projecting parts.

Figure 7 shows a construction adapted for sliding doors. In this instance, the end l0 of the latch bar 8 is formed with a cam portion 10a adapted to ride over the keeper 11 when the doors are slid together, or when the latch bar 8 is moved in a plane normal to the plane of projection of the keeper 11.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class specified, a latch bar adapted to fall by gravity into latching position, a locking and unlatching member for said bar, a lug on said member, and a key-actuated pawl adapted to engage with the lug and move said member into unlatched position.

2. In a device of the class specified, a latch bar adapted to drop by gravity into latching position, a locking and unlatching member pivoted to said latch bar, a spring for normally urging said member into locking position, a lug on said member, a paWl adapted to engage said lug, and an exteriorly operated lock for actuating said pawl to engage said lug and move said member into unlatched position.

3. In a device of the class specified, a latch bar adapted to drop by gravity into latching position, a locking and unlatching member pivoted to said bar, a spring for normally urging said member into locking position, a projection on said member, a pawl adapted to engage said projection, an exteriorly operated lock for actuating said pawl, and an interiorly operative cam member adapted to maintain said latch bar in unlatched position independently of said locking mechanism.

4. In a device of the class specied, a latch bar adapted to drop by gravity into latching position, a housing for said latch bar, said latch bar being pivoted at one end to said housing, said housing being flanged and having a recess formed in said flange at the lower portion of said housing, a locking and unlatching member pivoted at one end to said bar and having its opposite end projected through said recess, said member being formed with a locking shoulder adapted to engage the edge of the recessed portion of said flange, a lug formed on said latch member, a pawl adapted to engage said lug, an exteriorly operative lock for actuating said pawl, and an independent interior operative cam member adapted to engage said latch bar and hold it in unlocked position.

5. In a device of the class specified, a housing, a flange on said housing, a latch bar pivoted at one end to said housing, said flange being recessed V at the lower portion of said housing, a locking and unlatching member pivoted at one end to said latch bar and at its opposite end projecting through said recess, said member being formed with a shoulder adapted to engage the edge of the recessed portion of said flange, a lug formed on said member, a paWl adapted to engage said lug, an exteriorly operative lock for actuating said paWl to engage said lug, an interior-ly operative independent cam member for holding said latch bar in unlatched position, and a detachable member for actuating said cam.

6. In a device of the class speciiied, a pivotallymounted combined lock and latch bar adapted to fall by gravity into latching position, a lock member pivotally connected to said bar, means for normally urging said member toward locking position whereby when said bar falls into latching position it is automatically locked in such position by said member, and means controlled by an eXteriorly-operative lock for moving said member from locking position.

JOHN M. JOHNSON. 

